Anticarcinogenic impact of interferon therapy on the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic viral infection

[Guest guest]

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1872-034X.2011.00889.x/abstract

Anticarcinogenic impact of interferon therapy on the progression of

hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic viral infection

Soji Shimomura, Shuhei Nishiguchi

Article first published online: 26 SEP 2011

DOI: 10.1111/j.1872-034X.2011.00889.x

© 2011 The Japan Society of Hepatology

Issue

Hepatology Research

Early View (Online Version of Record published before inclusion in an issue)

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is mainly caused by a persistent infection due to

the hepatitis B or hepatitis C virus. The number of HCC cases is increasing in

Asian and African countries, as well as in European and American countries.

Interferon (IFN) therapy, used for type B chronic liver diseases, inhibits

hepatic carcinogenesis in patients with compensated cirrhosis. However, there is

insufficient evidence that IFN therapy inhibits hepatic carcinogenesis in

patients with chronic hepatitis B. There are few cases of HCC due to chronic

hepatitis B, and long-term follow-up periods verifying the inhibitory effect of

IFN on hepatic carcinogenesis have not been obtained. To improve the prognosis

of type B chronic liver diseases, it is important that hepatitis treatment

follows guidelines in which a patient's age and the extent of hepatic fibrosis

are taken into account. As for chronic hepatitis C, since a sustained

virological response (SVR) in IFN therapy inhibits hepatic carcinogenesis and

improves prognosis, treatment that aims for an SVR while taking into

consideration host-sided and virus-sided factors is recommended for patients

with type C chronic liver diseases. In areas with low incidence of HCC (e.g.

USA), a large number of cases and a long-term follow-up period are needed before

it can be accepted that IFN therapy inhibits hepatic carcinogenesis. After

locally curative treatment of HCC, IFN therapy suppresses recurrence and

improves survival rates.

[Guest guest]

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1872-034X.2011.00889.x/abstract

Anticarcinogenic impact of interferon therapy on the progression of

hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic viral infection

Soji Shimomura, Shuhei Nishiguchi

Article first published online: 26 SEP 2011

DOI: 10.1111/j.1872-034X.2011.00889.x

© 2011 The Japan Society of Hepatology

Issue

Hepatology Research

Early View (Online Version of Record published before inclusion in an issue)

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is mainly caused by a persistent infection due to

the hepatitis B or hepatitis C virus. The number of HCC cases is increasing in

Asian and African countries, as well as in European and American countries.

Interferon (IFN) therapy, used for type B chronic liver diseases, inhibits

hepatic carcinogenesis in patients with compensated cirrhosis. However, there is

insufficient evidence that IFN therapy inhibits hepatic carcinogenesis in

patients with chronic hepatitis B. There are few cases of HCC due to chronic

hepatitis B, and long-term follow-up periods verifying the inhibitory effect of

IFN on hepatic carcinogenesis have not been obtained. To improve the prognosis

of type B chronic liver diseases, it is important that hepatitis treatment

follows guidelines in which a patient's age and the extent of hepatic fibrosis

are taken into account. As for chronic hepatitis C, since a sustained

virological response (SVR) in IFN therapy inhibits hepatic carcinogenesis and

improves prognosis, treatment that aims for an SVR while taking into

consideration host-sided and virus-sided factors is recommended for patients

with type C chronic liver diseases. In areas with low incidence of HCC (e.g.

USA), a large number of cases and a long-term follow-up period are needed before

it can be accepted that IFN therapy inhibits hepatic carcinogenesis. After

locally curative treatment of HCC, IFN therapy suppresses recurrence and

improves survival rates.